Amethyst

I’ve known my pony, Sapphire, for ever. No really, I mean for ever. We were born on the same night, and have been inseparable ever since. I sensed there was something special about our bond, but it wasn’t until my 10th birthday that I found out just how special it was. It all started at a local in-hand show…

Show time

Sapphire and I regularly attended shows at the nearby Pony Club. We couldn’t enter riding competitions because she’s a miniature Shetland, but that didn’t matter – I just loved being around my precious appaloosa. At the showground, I unloaded Sapphy and groomed her so she would look amazing for the show. I twiddled with the necklace around my neck – I’d got it for my first birthday. It had a ruby on it and Sapphy had one with a sapphire that was attached to her headcollar. No one knew who’d got them for us, but I was glad they did.

“And now, competitor number four enters the arena. Ruby Taylor and Sapphire Night!” announced the loudspeaker. The round went perfectly – Sapphire didn’t miss a beat! But it wasn’t only that which made that day memorable – it was what happened after our test. I was giving Sapphy some treats when one of the judges came up to us. She was a tiny lady with white hair and glasses that made her bright purple eyes look huge and mysterious. 

In a quavering voice, she said, “Ruby! Great things will happen on your 10th birthday, but you must be prepared, as you never know what danger lies ahead.” And with that, she scuttled away. I didn’t have a clue what she meant, so I tried to forget it. But little did I know the strange judge’s warning was the start of something big.

In the days leading up to our birthday, Sapphire and I spent hours in the local forest, catching glimpses of the wild herd that neighboured our field. I had become very fond of a particularly sweet palomino foal. She would sometimes come to me for a piece of carrot or a head scratch. Sapphy seemed to like her, too.

The big day

When the big day finally arrived, I bounced down the stairs excitedly. 

“Morning!” I chirped to my parents and sat down at the dining table. 

“Morning, birthday girl!” replied Mum. I wolfed down my breakfast (chocolate spread on toast) and opened my presents, then rushed out to the stables to see Sapphy. As a special treat, Mum and Dad were letting me camp in the spare stable next door to Sapphy.

“Happy birthday, Sapphy!” I called. She whinnied in response and playfully nibbled my hair. We spent the day doing all the things we loved, playing Chase-Me-Charlie on foot, going for a walk in the field and watching the herd graze peacefully at sunset. Before we settled down to sleep, I snuggled up to Sapphy. “I love you so much, my precious girl,” I whispered.

In the middle of the night, I was woken by a bright blue light. I couldn’t figure out where it was coming from until I looked over Sapphy’s door and realised the necklace attached to her headcollar was glowing. Eyes wide with shock, I fumbled with the chain of my necklace and noticed it was glowing, too. I wrapped my arms around Sapphy’s neck and shut my eyes. ‘Maybe this is a dream? I’ll wake up and everything will be fine,’ I thought. The red light and blue light became bigger and brighter until they met and exploded into a shower of tiny, purple amethyst gems. Two of the gems landed on our necklaces and embedded themselves in the chains. ‘Oh my gosh! What’s happening?’ I thought.

I don’t know!

I spun around. Whose voice was that? There was no one else there – just me and Sapphy. I stared at her and a sudden realisation flooded through me – we could hear each other’s thoughts. I was doing telepathy with my pony!

Thinking out loud

At first, the thought of communicating telepathically with my pony scared me, but gradually I started to have fun with it. We mainly used it to play silly tricks on my parents. The best one was when I accidentally-on-purpose left our front door unlocked and Sapphy snuck in. She did this every night until my parents gave in and let her snuggle up on the beanbag.

One night, we were watching the telly when the weather forecast came on – we were going to have sun for the next few days. ‘Hear that, Sapph? We can go on some long walks’, I silently told her. No! That’s not true! The weather lies! she thought back. ‘What do you mean?’ I asked. Tomorrow there will be a massive storm! The herd isn’t safe! she explained. I let out a huge gasp. 

“Are you okay, Ruby? You look like you’ve seen a ghost!” joked Dad. 

“Yep, everything’s fine!” I squeaked. Sapphire and I exchanged worried glances.

The next morning, I hurried down to Sapphire’s stable. Just like the forecast said, the sun was shining. The storm is coming, Sapphy thought. We need to bring the herd away from the forest. They won’t be safe. The trees might fall. They need to come into our field. 

I frowned with concentration. We wouldn’t be able to round up the whole herd on our own, as there were too many of them. ‘How are we going to convince my parents to help?’ I thought back to her. ‘They’ll never believe a storm is coming.’ I chewed on my bottom lip. ‘And how will we get the herd to trust us?’ I continued. Sapphy’s head tilted up and her lips curved into a smile, exposing her teeth – just like when she smelled her favourite treats. I know how! she replied happily.

A crash of love

Sapphire wasn’t smiling for long, though, as a crash of thunder shook the sky so forcefully her stable walls quivered. I reached out to hold her, burying my head in her soft mane. We need to be brave, she thought to me. We can do this, Ruby. I lifted my chin up and pulled my shoulders down determinedly. It was up to us to help the herd, and I was ready.

Pulling my raincoat tight, I ran from Sapphy’s stable across our field towards the trees, which were shaking dangerously already. Sapphire galloped beside me, throwing her mane back as the rain poured down. Find the foal, find the foal, her voice chanted in my head. I scanned the forest, willing the herd to appear. A palomino coat flashed through the trees in a blur. ‘It’s her!’ I shouted in my head to Sapphy. I squinted to see past the driving rain further into the forest, and could make out more horses just behind. Come, come, Sapphy called, and trotted forward. I followed her to the edge of the tree line and heard her speaking quickly but softly to the foal. You’ll be safe in our field. Come, come, bring your family, Sapphy said. Ruby is our friend. She can hear you, so speak to her, she added.

Is dat troo? a tiny voice whispered in my mind. Yoo a fwend? It was the foal. My heart melted, but there was no time to lose. ‘Yes I’m your friend. Trust us. Please come, as the trees might fall. Hurry, hurry!’ I thought to her. But dey won’t trust yoo, the foal replied, looking over her shoulder at the herd. Sapphire glanced at me, then back to the foal. You lead the way and they’ll follow, Sapphy said to her. Weally? Pwomise? the foal asked. Sapphy bowed her head to the grass. I promise, she replied.

The foal stepped towards us on shaking legs, as we backed further into the field, never taking our eyes off her as we led her to safety. The alpha mare reared under the trees and whinnied with concern, but the foal kept coming. All of a sudden, a lightning bolt ripped through the sky and we heard trees cracking. In that moment I instinctively knew what to do. I knelt down so my necklace touched Sapphy’s and our amethysts shot a bright purple light straight towards the foal. Wot iz dat? she cried in my head. A beautiful purple glow created a forcefield around the herd, who cantered to join us in the field, just as the trees fell.

We were all safe. I fell to my knees and cried with relief. Sapphy licked my neck and the foal rested her muzzle on my hands. The herd parted to reveal the alpha mare, who glided forwards, gently nuzzled the foal and then turned to me. Thank you, her voice chimed in my head. It’s only fitting that you name our newest member. I looked into the foal’s beautiful purple eyes and smiled – Amethyst.